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Tag Archives: Tolentine Monastery

Constance Caraway P.I. ~ Episode 151

…How could such an imperfect creature like Eddie D. not jump at the chance of fame,fortune & immortality? It’s an insult to his craftiness…

Perfect is not the way these fine folks should be looking at things. There remains an interested party to certain things tied to the Libby Affair, which he can currently see or know. Pentateuch is a notoriously bad loser, even though he has an extended stay on Earth to his credit, rather than a permanent Lake of Fire address. Unlike the Divine One, who views a human lifetime as a blink of His eye, the Dark Deceiver treats every moment like it is his last. And that lightning bolt loss he suffered at Tolentine… he cannot let it go.

Even his dabbling in a phony bologna cult like The Church of Spiritual Engineering does not loosen his grip on the satisfaction gained by getting even; a mere toy in the game of tripping up greater mankind, not just this current group of aggravating agitators.

Eddie Dombroski is a known quantity in this storyline, a significant player from Penty’s first contact with that pesky private eye from Florida’s panhandle, which by the way, is a favorite hangout of his oldest and wealthiest sinners. He has kept an evil eye on Dombroski, especially since Eddie turned down the opportunity to trade his eternal soul for a king’s life of fame and fortune. How could such an imperfect creature not jump at that chance? It’s an insult to his craftiness.

As is Penty’s want, a daily check on this (f)ailing soul (Eddie) can only be a good thing, to his way of thinking. He might even have the chance to swoop in a snag that soul for the promise of one or ten more years of life. OR catch a whiff of who might still be in contact with the former chauffeur to the Libbyites.

Pondering Penty

He ponders, like demons ponder: ‘For one, Constance Caraway is a constant, like the proverbial pestilences of Egypt. She seems plagued by guilt, such a uniquely human emotion, though in this case, it has spawned another condition named, loyalty.

‘This Ace Bannion is a curious addition to this malevolent mix. And whatever happened to that empty-headed female twit of a sidekick? She was so fun to tweak, so predictable. But this Ace, a walking ego an two feet, is unpredictable with an historic heroic bent. He warrants my special concern.

‘And what of this Billy Graham? You must be kidding me! I thought he was going to just another flash in the pan, bible-stumping, do-gooder. What interest could he have with a dying commoner like Eddie? What is a national figure like him doing here?’

When things don’t add up, or when he can’t skew the numbers, it bothers him to no end.

Constance Caraway P.I. ~ Episode 103

…The funeral ruse, albeit necessary, is a cruel charade especially for the hundreds of folks that have come to Chicago to pay their respects for Willard Libby…

So sad is his grieving Aunt Sister Mary Joseph Franks that she volunteers Tolentine as the location of his memorial service. She and Martin Kamen are the lone attendees that have the real skinny on Libby’s “passing” and his true fate. The ruse, albeit necessary, is a cruel charade especially for the hundreds of folks that have come to Chicago to pay their respects, but in the grand scheme of things, they have no other choice.

Enrico Fermi: “He was a great scientific visionary and a brave supporter of the “nuclear age”…”

Billy Graham: “Willard Libby took the time to fully consider all aspects of his research, even those of God…”

Constance Caraway P.I. ~ Episode 68

…If “they” find out that he (Willard Libby) is still alive, all hell may break loose…

A Newly minted 1951 has brought with it what is referred to as a “January thaw” to the greater Chicago area. Instead of temperatures at or below zero, which only encourages any accumulated snow to stay put, 40+ degrees Fahrenheit is a welcome respite, a peek at what the coming spring will bring, later if not sooner.

The orchestrated sounds, from inside the grand Cadillac Theatre and Palmer House Hotel, have wafted away by now, so it is back to work in the bizarre case of the formerly missing Willard Libby. Constance Caraway Private Investigation has had a front seat to nearly all the newest developments and its amazing fluidity. There is a new twist around every corner and merely keeping everything straight is a chore.

Martin Kamen has been in daily contact with Superintendent Steinberg. He reports that Libby has been elevated from Stage Two Catatonia to garden variety incoherent, making it back to one word accomplishments; “bell” has been deciphered during fits of frustrated attempts at cogent communication.

With little hope of Willard making significant progress, Martin decides that between William and him, they can care for the man just as well, with the help of a nursing school intern or three.

“This all must remain hush-hush Martin, so we’ll have to do this in the dark of night, sometime after “lights out” and before “rise and shine”. You tell me that no one has inquired about his condition?” Connie asks.

“I must admit this to you,” Martin but not before sheepishly qualifying himself, “I had Elgin Hospital issue a death statement about a certain John Doe that had shown up there on December 16th, made all the papers around Cook and DuPage Counties. Just in case I have written an obituary as well.

“I did not want to bother you and Fanny, though we’re not totally in the clear, I know. I also got a message to his Aunt Mary Joseph at Tolentine, letting her know that Willard has been located and that we would keep her informed. She is as elated as a nun can get.”

Mr. Beaker

“She won’t blab will she?” Constance stresses the need for absolute secrecy. “If “they” find out that he is still alive, all hell may break loose — and I mean that quite literally.”

“She seemed more concerned about the death of Ernesto Pacelli; she had found out that he was the Pope’s brother, not exactly a gold star for Tolentine. But she is keenly aware of what’s at stake; she has even taken in Will’s cat, Mr. Beaker.”

Constance Caraway P.I. ~ Episode 58

…For the last year and a half Agent Daniels has been embedded in a foreign organization called FOREVER MASTADON, FM for short… not the Ice Age elephant…

Agent Daniels of the FBI continues to explain his presence at 6137 Kimbark, i.e. what he knows about Forever Mastadon..

“And your connection to Libby or the other possible reasons you have popped in?” It is Constance’s job to vet even the most credentialed of spies.

“I am a mole inside the Pope’s inner circle (as Bernard Spencer) becoming involved with Willard Libby only because of Pacelli’s participation at Tolentine. FMneeds to know what information Pope Pius is going to receive.”

“F & M was written in soap on that mirror at White Castle,”she reminds Martin quietly, as they carefully confirm this man’s legitimacy, with one hand still poised on her Beretta 1951, holstered to her upper thigh. Only Fanny knows that Constance is packing heat.

“One of FM’s greater goals is to stifle the entire planet’s belief in God, a longtime Communist manifesto, but taken to the extreme by these “people”.” Daniels used the closed-quote signing for his last word.

“Are you inferring that some ofFM consists of off-world elements,” Constance has her own suspicions about that ever since 33 North LaSalle.

“I have penetrated Mastadon as a respected ally in Rome, Italy. I go by the name “Cephus”, and I gather from chatter amongst the other foot soldiers that they are convinced of a struggle between good and evil, at the highest level,” the man of many names, as we will find out, explains. “As it turns out, being labeled as evil does not seem to bother these people; they have a leader that they believe in and are dedicated to.

“I am doing my best to find out who that is and how high it goes.”

“It cannot get much higher, believe me,” Constance speaks from experience. “Do you think it’s not a coincidence that FM is based in Italy and its proximity to The Vatican?”

“Oh my no; the Holy Roman Catholic Church has been a high value target for FM since before the Middle Ages.”

Constance Caraway P.I. ~ Episode 41

…“A cowboy’s work is never done, Miss Caraway…

Speaking with good guy Billy Graham proves to be the easier than the others. The young organizer of gospel spreading crusades, president of Northwestern Bible College and founder of his own Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is more than willing to find the time to answer questions about the events at Tolentine, as they relate to the missing biochemist.

“That Willard fellow was such an engaging man, please tell me that nothing bad has befallen him.” Graham is the type of Southern gentleman that radiates genuine.

“I want to thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to speak with me…..my family is such a big admirer of your work,” she cannot help be a bit star struck.

“A cowboy’s work is never done, Miss Caraway…I’ve got a huge flock of proverbial cattle to watch over..

“Can you magnify what your role was at that Tolentine meeting? Reverend Graham, my name is Martin David Kamen, Libby’s contemporary” Martin wants to enter in the discussion, rather lecture with a good dose catechism. They will get an earful, taking notes for good measure.

“Mister Libby wanted to pick my brain about Creation, as it relates to his work in the biochemical field. He had mentioned that he come upon some empirical evidence that the age of the God’s Universe is infinitely younger than is widely accepted in science, to which I sing a hearty AMEN!

“Here is an abridged version of what I have come to find out in my study on the topic, as it relates to Biblical truth:

“When God created the Universe as we know it, it took him just 6 of His days. How long His days are only God himself knows, but in comparison mankind exists in a mere blink of His eye; one second for God is like one of our generations. That is why it seems it takes him forever to take action, the whole slow to anger part of His nature……... (the case for Creation to be continued)

Constance Caraway P.I. ~ Episode 26

Chapter Three

CASTLES

…Yet another detailed Dombroski anecdote finds them right to the front entrance of the main Tolentine building, looking every bit the castle…

The inimitable Eddie Dombroski has once again been summoned to the greater University of Chicago area. The path between his home and the prestigious bastion of higher education is a well-worn path. In the intervening three days after Constance and her compatriots did their sweep of Willard Libby’s campus office, he has ferried any and all of them, here and there and back again.

The girls share a guestroom at Kamen’s Kimbark address for convenience sake, just down the hall from the elusive piano teacher William, who seems to be more of an urban legend than real person. In the notable time they have spent in Hyde Park, they have yet to see him in person.

Here and there, there and here; today’s here is the Tolentine Seminary (in Olympia Fields Illinois) where they are to meet with a M. Joseph Franks, who has been talking to Libby quite regularly, Illinois Bell records have shown.

“I haven’t been this far south since my folks took us kids on a camping trip down by the Kankakee River. I saved my youngest brother’s crazy buttski after he fell into the water trying to catch a big fish, not with a pole but with his bare hands, dumb Pollack! It was a monster thing, about the size of our canoe. Jimmy couldn’t swim, but that didn’t stop him from jumping in after it.”

Yet another detailed Dombroski anecdote finds them right to the front entrance of the main Tolentine building, looking every bit the castle, minus the mote and towering walls. Named for Saint Nicholas of Torentino, an Augustinian Friar, it is a sprawling property with that eerie look of inactivity, though well kept and stately. There is woman waiting for them as they enter the narthex.

“We are looking for a Joseph Franks,” Constance states with assurance. The staff is aware she is fishing for information about Willard Libby.

Constance Caraway P.I. ~ Episode 22

…“Where do we start Miss Caraway?…

Martin Kamen finds out that Willard was in regular communication with Vatican City, among others. What is the connection between the theory of evolution and radiocarbon dating? He chimes in with his nuggets:

Pope Pius XII wanted Willard to come out against the growing scientific leanings in favor of the theory of evolution.

Willard lives in Olympia Fields. Tolentine is a monastery of Friars on the edge of that sleepy Illinois village.

Billy Graham is an evangelist and crusader who has a degree in anthropology of all things.

McGraw-Hill is the unrivalled publisher of textbooks in the US and has a vested interest in all things taught.

The United Nations sent Willard a cable concerning some mystery group that had gotten their attention; must have been serious enough for them to exhibit care about an organization that has spread its wings around the globe.

“When this is all over and we have untangled this briar patch, well in this case ‘friar-patch’,you should come back to Florida with us. I like the way you think.” Constance picks up on the growing connection between those seemingly stray Libby contacts and Martin’s investigative talents. He would be a welcomed addition to CCI.

“Not only that, Libby had called the FBI before they called him! What would a scientist have to do with government types, especially the spy kind? He must have sensed trouble,” adds Fanny.

“It looks like the entire planet was taking notice of his work.” In most instances that is the point of scientific research. Martin’s sense of security is waning.

“And yet you are as clean as a whistle and without a scratch on that pretty-boy face.”

“… At least for now. And so is Sam Ruben, a vital colleague of hours, part of the precious few, so-to-speak. I spoke with him the day before last and he too is getting spooked.” He speaks of their carbon-collaborator from University of California-Berkeley.

“And we know that we’re not dealing with a jealous husband or wacko lady friend,” Fanny notes, removing the love triangle aspect from the fray. Human emotion is generally the spark that ignites the fuel for the private investigatory engine.

“Where do we start Miss Caraway? There are a dozen angles to consider here.”